'We Joined Congress Together, I Left Sooner': Himanta Says Bhupen Borah Will Join BJP on February 22

Guwahati: Day after the Congress party in Assam suffered a major blow, just ahead of the assembly polls, with former state party chief Bhupen Borah's resignation, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Tuesday that Borah will be joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on February 22.

Welcoming the long-time Congress veteran within the folds of the saffron party, Sarma, who had earlier been Borah's party colleague said, “We joined the Congress party together. I left sooner. He will join BJP formally on February 22. Many Congress leaders and workers will also join the BJP along with Bhupen Borah."

The Assam Chief Minister also informed that there will be a separate ceremony held in Lakhimpur as well to celebrate Borah's joining, as it is the latter's "hometown."

“Today I came to meet former President of APCC and Chairman of Campaign Committee Bhupen Bora,” Sarma said speaking to reporters at a press conference, along with Borah, after his meeting. This comes at a time when the stalwart leader just tendered his resignation from the Congress on Monday, sending political shockwaves across Assam. 

Mentioning that the BJP national president Nitin Nabin has welcomed him in the party, Sarma said, “Him joining the BJP will strengthen our party. Joining the BJP will be a homecoming for him. He will love his new family. Bhupen Boarh will get all the respect that he deserves.” 

Addressing the reason why Bhupen Borah must have chosen to severe ties with his party, Sarma, who had earlier been in the Congress fold, said, “When a party leader resigns after serving his party for 30 years, there must be a strong reason. Congress has the serious problem of not addressing the reason.”

“We give platform to all its leaders. Bhupen did not feel it that way in Congress. So he left it,” he added.

Sharpening his attack against the Congress, Sarma said, “Congress is no longer a party of mainstream Assamese people.”

Gogoi The Face, Hussain The Base

Bhupen Borah's resignation on Monday had sparked a full-blown crisis in the Assam Congress, with top leaders from the grand old party rushing to the disgruntled leader's residence in a bid to pacify him and asking him to take back his resignation.

Earlier on Tuesday, in an exclusive interview with Republic Media Network Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami, the former president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC), explained the reasons behind his dramatic resignation. Borah claimed that the grand old party in Assam has been "taken over" by Rakibul Hussain, that has indicated a shift in power dynamics within the party and has sidelined several leaders.

"Gaurav Gogoi is the face and Rakibul Hussain is the base now," he stated.

When asked by Arnab, why Gogoi has become so dependent on Hussain, Borah said, "Gaurav Gogoi became the state party president because of Rakibul Hussain and his next plan is to contest from Nagaon for the next Lok Sabha elections. So, Gogoi needs Rakibul Hussain."

"In entire Congress party, you can ask anybody, the entire family is suffering from mental infighting. This is because all party workers think this is not APCC but APCC (R). This is not the Congress I joined. This is Assam Pradesh Congress Rakibul Hussain," he explained further.

He also blamed Hussain for past electoral losses, citing the rhino poaching scandals of 2016 and the controversial 2021 alliance with the AIUDF. Borah claimed that Hussain is now "dictating" terms within the party.

Congress' Fate In This Assembly Election

Speaking about the upcoming assembly elections, Borah said that even if the party corrects its course, it will be too late, and it will be restricted to being the Opposition party in Assam.

“If Congress party thinks what to do after my resignation and corrects their course of action, then they may become the opposition party in Assam. If Gaurav Gogoi continues as a face of the party and Rakibul Hussain as a base of the party, I can give you guarantee that the recognition of the party inside the Assembly will be finished,” Borah said.

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